Meet Our Nursing School Instructors

I am a surgical nurse working part-time in the operating room at St Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. I am ACLS and BLS trained and certified as an OR nurse (CNOR). I have been teaching a lot of NCLEX test takers for quite a long time. My students love my ability to break down complex concepts into simple blocks, which makes them understand easily. I like to teach students by bringing them real-life experiences so that it becomes easy to remember. I would love to talk to you and help you clear the NCLEX with ease.

My name is Rachel Taylor I have experience in intensive care nursing and have always had a passion for education. This led me to being an Academic Success Tutor for a BSN program. From my experience there I became very passionate about test taking skills and test anxiety, an area I see many students struggle with. I love helping students find different tools to be successful. I look forward to working with you!

Preparing for the NCLEX can be the most stressful part of your nursing journey. Book a private tutor session with me and I’ll work with you to turn that stress into knowledge. Every session with me is built around your learning styles and needs. I graduated from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada in 2017 so the experience of writing the NCLEX is still fairly fresh in my memory, while having gained valuable experience in the clinical setting that drives my passion to teach. I have worked in ER and ICU for the last 5 years, receiving my Critical Care Nursing certificate in 2021. I look forward to sharing the tricks that I used when studying for the NCLEX as well as practical knowledge that I’ve gained throughout my career in ER and ICU. I love travelling, which led me to work abroad in Australia, rock climbing, and helping others succeed!

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BSN and MSN in nursing and as a women’s health nurse practitioner. During my years of practice as an RN in the hospital setting, I worked in a combined med/Surg, trauma, and bariatric center of excellence for my first role. I then went on to work in a critical care float pool where I practiced in the neuro, cardiac and medical ICUs, emergency department, and several step-down units. After completing my masters, as a women’s health nurse practitioner, I worked for nine years in direct patient care with women of all ages and through all stages of life. Throughout my years of practice, I have always prioritized the teaching and training of students as a preceptor to dozens of students. I can’t wait to teach YOU, the next generation of nurses!

I attended ASU for my Biochemistry Degree and received my Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from NAU. I have been practicing as a nurse since 2017, and have been trained to work in settings such as stroke centers, Level 1 Trauma Hospitals, Neurosurgery, as well as General Surgery where I currently work. Since I began working as a Progressive Care nurse, all the way to Operating Room nurse, I have been precepting New Graduate Nurses and loving it. When I am not working at the hospital, you can find me at Maricopa Community College where I teach as an Adjunct Clinical Educator for the School of Nursing.

Having been a student myself during Nursing School and the Perioperative Program, I understand the struggles students experience, and what it takes to pass licensing exams successfully. I also have an understanding of testing anxiety, and have built test strategies and learning tools which helped me pass NCLEX on my first try. Now I can help you do the same! I am excited to work with you, share my knowledge and build strategies and confidence together to pass the NCLEX exam!

Some fun facts about me. I was born in Romania, my parents emigrated here in 2005 by winning a Lottery VISA game. I speak four languages: English, Romanian, Spanish, and French.

I received my BSN from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, my first MSN in Family Practice from the University of Cincinnati, in Ohio, my second MSN in Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky, then finally, my DNP from Frontier in 2019. I have had the opportunity to serve clients within several areas in the hopsital setting, ICU (neuro), Endoscopy, Postpartum, and Labor and Delivery. Once I graduated with my Midwifery degree, I served women in an OB/GYN clinic and enjoyed providing for their medical, physical, emotional, and educational needs. Throughout these experiences, I have enjoyed working with students as a preceptor or even as a shadowing experience. The opportunity to teach, and see those "ah ha" moments drew me towards education. Outside of the hospital and clinic setting I have experience teaching with both RN and LPN programs and enjoy helping students identify their preferred method of learning and helping them hone their areas of strength, while strengthening areas they are not as comfortable in.

With a BS in Education and certifications in both psychiatric and holistic nursing, I bring over 30 years of diverse nursing experience to my tutoring practice. My clinical background spans med-surg, diabetes care, mental health, home health, oncology, and geriatrics. In addition to serving as a Level 1 Clinical Nursing Instructor, I have also tutored college-level anatomy and physiology. Specializing in general nursing and mental health, I am passionate about simplifying complex topics to help students succeed in their nursing studies. I focus on building a clear road map by teaching foundational skills first and layering on more complex topics as students grow in confidence and understanding.

I received my BSN from the University of Utah and started my nursing career in home health and women’s services. As my kids got older, I worked as the lead school nurse in a K-12 charter school, as a public health nurse, and in immunization clinics. My favorite part of nursing has always been teaching and patient education!

I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a passion for helping students excel in their nutrition and dietetics journey. I hold both a BS and MS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Loma Linda University and am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition, specializing in functional and integrative nutrition. With over four years of experience as a clinical dietitian at a major medical center, I have developed expertise in areas such as eating disorders, pediatrics, ICU, telemetry, med-surg, OB, labor and delivery, oncology, orthopedics, and geriatrics.

I understand the unique challenges you might face in mastering these foundational topics. My approach is tailored to your individual learning style, focusing on breaking down complex concepts into manageable pieces, whether you're preparing for exams or tackling specific clinical topics. I'm here to help you build confidence and succeed in your studies by providing the knowledge and support you need to thrive.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, exploring new places and traveling, trying new food spots, and finding innovative ways to incorporate holistic practices into everyday life. I look forward to helping you achieve your academic and professional goals!

I’m Annelyse Caffrey, a dedicated family nurse practitioner with a passion for education and a commitment to helping others succeed in their nursing careers. I hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN-RN) from Brigham Young University with a minor in Gerontology.

Throughout my education and career, I’ve always loved school and thrived on learning new things. However, I also know the stress that comes with exams and complex material. As a verbal and visual learner, I understand the importance of grasping concepts on a personal level through one-on-one interactions. I believe personalized guidance is key to mastering nursing material and excelling in exams.

Some fun facts about me: I hold an international captain’s license and spent a year living on a sailboat abroad, which was an incredible adventure. Additionally, I volunteer at my local aquarium, where I scuba dive in the shark tank, contributing to safety briefings and dive safety policy changes. These experiences have enriched my life and provided me with a broad perspective that I bring into my teaching.

My name is Carly. I am currently pursuing my DNP (Adult Gerontology) degree at UNC Greensboro, and I work part-time at UNC Hillsborough on an inpatient geriatrics floor. I’ve been a nurse for 10 years and have spent most of my nursing career working on inpatient medical-surgical floors (lower GI surgery, geriatrics, family medicine, and orthopedics, to name a few specialties). I’ve also done travel nursing as well as clinical research in radiology. Before that, I tutored at UNC for undergraduate students. I’ve always loved teaching and mentoring other nurses, and I look forward to helping you in your nursing journey!

My name is Rebecca Coulter, and I have been a nurse specializing in ICU for almost 6 years. As a new graduate, I started in a Cardiovascular Surgical ICU, where I worked for 2.5 years before travel nursing. The learning curve was steep, but I am so thankful for the experience I gained, which provided a solid foundation in critical care to take with me as I traveled. Over the years, I have enjoyed caring for some of the most critically ill patients in the hospital, supporting and educating families and patients as they navigate their critical illnesses. I have settled in Bozeman, Montana, where I work as a preceptor and charge nurse in the ICU. I am passionate about training nurses new to the ICU, attempting to relay information in understandable and practical ways. There is nothing like seeing a difficult concept finally click for a nurse or nursing student, and I would love to help you get there, too!

My name is Rachel Devon, and my background includes both nursing and education! Prior to attending nursing school, I was a teacher for five years (both in the US and abroad). After nursing school, I began my bedside nursing career in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU. One of my favorite parts of this job was providing education to the patients and their families on their cardiac condition. My next field of nursing was pediatric clinical research, where I got to coordinate the ins and outs of clinical trials. Among all of my nursing experiences, two of my strengths have been attention to detail and organization. If you have an assignment or paper that you want a second set of eyes on, need help editing, or just want to ensure that it is top-notch, I would love to work on it with you!

My name is Sarah and I am a pediatric nurse practitioner. As an RN, I have varied experience in settings like critical care, outpatient surgery, and pediatrics. As an NP, I have worked in pediatric primary care, lactation, and pediatric behavioral health.

I enjoy teaching patients, their families, and students, particularly about all things pediatrics and how nursing care is different for this population; kids are not just small adults! I have been a clinical instructor for undergraduate nursing students and frequently precept NP students as well. I am a visual learner and like to teach using visual aids to help with understanding and information recall. I also love pharmacology and helping students not feel intimidated or overwhelmed with how drugs work in the body. I’d love to help you solidify your foundation of understanding for all things peds and mental health!

I have been a nurse since 2007 after obtaining my BSN right out of high school. I worked in pediatrics as a NICU staff nurse for many years before moving into emergency medicine. I found my passion for education in 2013 when I advanced my education with my MSN and most recently my DNP. I understand the pressures of nursing school while trying to manage a career and family. The stress of preparing and successfully taking the NCLEX is the most challenging part of your nursing career journey! I love helping students achieve their goals so let me help ease that stress and anxiety.

I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my husband and 2 kids.

Anyone who knows Brandon knows that mathematics is not just a profession but an integral part of his identity. With over 15 years of teaching experience as a college math instructor, Brandon’s love and dedication to the subject is evident. In short, mathematics is not just a subject for Brandon, but a way of life that he is eager to share with others. He thoroughly enjoys his profession and shows it proudly on his license plate - I DO MATH.

Brandon also enjoys spending quality time with his son. The two of them love going to amusement parks and water parks together, and also do tae kwon do as a team. They also enjoy spending time with their dog. When the weather is nice, outdoor activities like basketball, tailgating, landscaping, grilling, and relaxing in his backyard swimming pool and hot tub occupy his time. He listens to all types of music on Spotify and is an avid fan of his alma mater - East Carolina Pirates.